Block-signal system for railways.



No. 857,446. PATEBFBED JUNE 18,1907.

. n. G, common BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLIGATION FILED 1101 .24, 1903.

,. A SHEETSSHIBET 1.

R 37a C I 3 a Station A,

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' No. 857,446. PATENTED swim 18, 1 907. r

H. G. GOMSTOGK.

BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

' QPPLIOATIOH FILED KOV. 24, 1903,

$10,257,445. PATENTED im; 18, 1907. H e. GOMSTOGK. 131,001: SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR'RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 903. 4 I

. K Q 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

min asses I t l N0. $7,446. PATENTED JUNE 1a, 1907 H. G, GOMSTOGK.

BLOGK SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1903. v

4 SHEETB-SHEBT 4.

' miness es UNXTED 'sTA Tss fi nrssr ossronf uoM a e. ooMsTooK, OF-SAN FRANOISCOQOALIFORNIA.

' BLOCK-SIGNAL SYSTEM'IFOR RAlLw Ys.

Specifleation of Letters Patent.-

Patented June 18, 1907.

Application filed November- 24, 1903. Serial No. 182,461.

T all] whom, it :may concern:

Be it known that], HOMER G. CoMsT'ooK,

a citizen of the United States, residin in-the cit and county of San Francisco, tate of Caifornia, have invented an Improvement in Block-Signal Systems for Railways; and

I hereby'declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact desEription of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic block signal systems, and consists in the combination of electrically actuated signals with mechanism located in the path of travel of trains; means carried by the trains by which said mechanism is actuated to successively close circuits; the first of which moves a switch which makes-contact with wires leading to magnets which operate the signals at a distant station when the train enters a'stat ion or commencement of I in depressed as the train 7 w ich exposes the signal be 'nd the train to the block recedin that. station. Other contacts are made by succeeding buttons beroceeds, onev of protect it from the rear, and another sets the signal at-the commencement ofthe preceding block to show that that block is clear. The switch is finally restored to its first position disconnecting previously made connections when the train passes the'last of the-devices which are operated by it. Means are similarly provided to set a signal which will notify l a following train that the first train is sti within that block; and means are also provided that if the signals are disregarded, the steam will be shutoff. and brakes applied au tomatically and without action .by the engineer; means are also provided so that if two trains a roach from o osite directions si P gp n'a'ls wil be set to notify oth trains, and mec .anism by which-one or both trains will be stopped automatically before reaching the den er point.

- l\ y invention also comprises details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which' Figure 1" is a view showing one of the Sim one of the track circuit closers. Fig. 5 is an end view of the same. Fig. 6 is a side view of the rotary commutator or switch. Fig. 7 is a transverse section through a a'otF' 6. Fig. 8 is a similar section throu h a: a: of g.- 6. Fi 9 is a view ofthe trach and-sa iety devices by which the correspond- .ing devices on the train are automatically operated to bring it to a stop. "Figs. 10, 11,

12 and 13 are views of the signals in different ositions. Fi 14 is a view of mechanism For actuating t e commutator or switch.

It is the object of my invention, first to provide a means for automatically operatin the system of block signals by movement 0' the train or locomotive; second, to provide a device to prevent trams or locomotives runmechanism ning past a signal which is set to stop them;

third, to provide a'deyice for controlling the electrical connections, which is also thrown into and out'of operation by the passing of the train.

The axle of a locomotive orcar is provided with an auxiliary wheel A'which serves to derose the successive track buttons or circuit P closing devices shown at 2, and which buttons, when depressed, connect the wires of the desired circuits. These closing buttons are here shown as contained within inclosing cases and the cases have covers as shown at 3 which are normally held up by springs 4, these springs being so stiff that they will keep the contact points apart and prevent their being tampered with. The springs i'nay be sutficient to support a weight of 10 to 20' thousand pounds, but will yield to the weight of the train when the pressure wheel A passes over them.

' The commutator or switch 5 consists of I fiber or other equivalent insulating material which is encircled by eight metallic strips or hands as at 6, having a piece of insulating material inserted between the ends of the bands as shown at 7, these bands being less length than the circumference of the cylinder which forms the switch.

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The strips are insulated from each other an are so placed that the metallic strips 6, etc, will be in pairs; each pair alternating above and below a line drawn lengthwise of the cylinder so that the, throw or turn of the switch need not be very great. 7

, 88" are elastic lates or arms which ma be suitably fixed a ove or below the switc to a frame in which the switch is ioumaled and revoluble and these strips, connect with the upper end of the wires leading to electric magnets by which the'signals and other parts are to be actuated, as shown at 52, 71 (Fig.2).

10-10 are electric magnets fixed at a short distance apart, and between them an armature 11 is suspended so as to be attracted bmther one or the other of said magnets when ener ized. This armature is here shown as pivoted at 12 having an arm extending upwardly from the-pivot and upon arm is carried a segmentalrack 13. This rack engages a toothed pinion 14"which is carried-upon the'commutator or switch shaft, and when the armature is attracted by magnet 10, it will move the'segmentalrack 13 so as to turn the commutator into a position where four of the elastic arms ,8 will rest-upon four of themetallic strips 6", 6 6, 6", and thus com lete an electrical circuit through the wires wit which the parts to be actuated by a train going in one direction are connected. When the other magnet 10 is energized, the armature will "be attracted in the opposite direction,

and the switch will be rotated so that the elastic-arms may rest upon the other four metallic strips 6", 6", 6' 6, and thus-complete an electrical circuit through the. wires with which the variousparts-to be actuated 'by a train necte Each of the stationsas I term them, which form the'ends of the blocks, is provided' with a number of the track buttons or closing circuits which are here bered from 1 to6 at station A; from 1 to 6 at station B; and from 1 to 6 at station C.

Ihave here indicated three stations as being sufficient to explain the operation of my apparatus.

going in the oppositedirection, are conmiles, and the space between two adjacent stations form the blockin each case. The signals '1515 are made in any suitable manner to be exposed or concealed, and they are mounted upon fiber or other non-contallic so ments formed in ducting centers as at 16. These. centers are here shown circular in form and having methem in the periphel'ry ass own at 17.

18-48 are elastic arms suitably fixed r16, and having their ends so disposed that when the signal is In one position the springs will both rest upon the metallicxor conducting segment 17, and will complete the circuit through the" conducting wires with which they are connected) When the signal is moved to the other pos'ition, one of the springs will rest upon the non-conducting surface and the circuit will thus be broken.' The movement of these 'signals is efiected as follows: 1919-are magnets separated from each other a short shown as num- These stations will be located at, any suitable distance apart, as from 4 to 5 head on. signal expo end 0 necessary to protect it -'from a train distance, and in the present drawing these ma nets are shown as standing substan tiall y horizontal. Between 'the two contiguous ends, of each of these magnets is an armature 20. This armature is pivoted or fulcrumed as shown at 21, and the end extending beyond the fulcrum is connected with a short crank arm as at 22. This crank arm is connected with or carried by the signal shaft or-bearing, and it will be seen that when the magnet 19 is energized the armature beingl attracted by that magnet will act throug the crank arm 22 to move the signal in one direction and when the armature is acted upon by the magnet 19, the signal will be moved in the opposite direction. By this movement of the signal and the disk 16 the circuits are completed or broken through the spring arms 18-18.

The depression buttons marked 1 to 6 etc., at the different stations may be separated from each otherabout 100 feet more or less; the operation will then'be as follows:

Suppose the train reaches station A coming from the left. It first depresses the button No. land this completes the circuit from battery. 30 through-wire 31, through contact button 1, through wire 32, through electro magnet 10, thence through wire 33 back to battery 30. i The normal position of the commutator is that in which it is left by a passing train until changed by a train going in the opposite direction, with train moving from left to right as-assumed, in the illustration, if

aitrain has previously passed in the same direction, no change would occur, the elastic arms 8 would rest upon metallic strips 6, 6, 6 6. If previous train had passed from right to left the arms 8* would rest upon stripsfi", 6 6, 6. The completion of this circuit energizes magnet 10, and this attracting the armature 11. (Fig. 14) operates through the se lsso as to ma e connection to complete an electric circuit from battery 30 through wire 52, spring arm 8, metallic strip-6 elastic arm 8, wire 71, bhIOLEh wire 33 to ground v When the button 2 is depressed by the moving train it acts to complete the circuit from battery 30 through Wires 31, 52, met'allicstrip 6, wire 71 -130 magnet 19 to set the signal 15 at the next station or B to danger that is with the ing depresses button 3, and this connectsbatmagnet 19, through;

nent 13 to rotate the switch The train continutcry 30 through wires 3 1, 50, metallic strip 6',

loop wire. 6*, wire 64 to magnet 19 wire 33" to ground G, and thuslowers signal 15 at station the succeeding block, but this is to reverse thesi nal, i. e. the, train having reached the the. block at station A, it, is no longer fromthe opposite direction but from a train following.

A to show a temporary clearance of coming sur ace V through wires 31, 36, metallic strip 6 wire 65", to magnet ic and this operates through elec-tro magnets 19*, armature 20 andinterposed mechanism to expose the signal 15 at statlon A to'protect "the entering train from the rear.

When button No. 5 is passed it will complete the circuit through the battery 30, wires 31, 37, elastic spring 8, metallic strip 6 loop Wire 6 spring 8, Wire 69 to magnet 19 at the previous station thence through Wire 33 to ground G, which as before described may be as much as four miles away, and this energizes the electro magnet 19 at that station, which is similar to the magnet 19 at station A, thus attracting its armature Zll-and through the intermediate mechanism setting the si nal 15 at that previous station to show that the block previous to station A is clear.

When button No. 6 is depressed it corn- Ipletes the circuit from the batter 30 through Wires 31, 38, through the magnet and Wire 33 to battery, and this rotates the switch 14 back to a-position which disconnects the previously made connections through the contact spring arms 8, 8 and peated at each block.

:Inetallic strips 6, loop wirefi 6 6 loop Wire 6 and makes connections through 6, 6 6 6 and prepares for a train coming from the right. These operations are re If a second train is following on the same track with train 1, it will be notified of the position of the train 1 by the depression of the button No. 4 by the latter train at station A which will as-nreviousl described ex JGSQ the si nal at said station to the second aw 1 i l i l proaching train ans notify it that train 1 is in the block between A and E.

. vTrain No. 2 on entering'the lJlQCli pIQVlOUS to A and dc IESELHB the button No. 2 at that station will complete the circuit to set the signal at station A, and close the circuit through the springs 18, 18* which are operated by the movement of the signal through wires-61, 51, 53, 33 and battery 30. The normal position of 18, 18 is with the points resting upon the nonscon-ducting surface. VVhenthe position of signals 15; l5 are at da'nger, contactis made throu h both commutatofs, and the circuit inclu es springs .18, 18. Thisenergizes both the magnets 25, .25 at station A as follows: From battery 30 through Wire 53 through magnet 25,

wire 51 to magnet through. Wire 61, spring 18 which rests on conducting surface of signal l5 through Wire 63 .120 the other sprm signa 15, Wire 33* to battery 30, and this 'acts to raise the levers 26, which are hinged in such relation with the passing train t at when raised they will contact w th levers or appliances upon the train as at 2?, and these 18 resting on conducting surface of the button 2 at station A, train 3 appliances are so connected as to shut oil the steam and-apply the brakes on train N o. 2 if tween station E and. C) and in case that the enigneer or other official has not noticed the danger signals at A, this renders the stoppage of the train automatic and independent ofany of the train oiiicials. If, however, train No. 1 reaches station B'before train N0. 2 reaches A, train N o. 1 Will act through the depression button 5 at station B to set the signal at station A to show that the block between A. and B is then clear. It also compistes the circuit from the battery through wires 33, metallic strip 6 loop Wire 6, Wire 6%, from station B7 to station A, and this acts to set signal 15 to indicate safety,. and by its movement de-energizes the magnet 25 Which. breaks the circuit through 25-25*, and 18, 18 so that26 is lowered, and by releasing the armature of said magnet the arms 26 are allowed to drop out of the Way of the contact appliances carried by train N0. This clears thetrack in the block between A and B for train No. 2 and these operations will continue in successive blocks as long as the trains are not nearer together than the distance between the stations'. if the train approach from the right in the opposite direction from the movement of the trains previously described on reaching station Q, it will first depress button 69' at that station. The contact thus produced completes circuit between'battery 30 at station C which energizes the magnet 10 at this station, and. this acting through the interinediate mechanism, as previously descr bed for No. i, moves the commutator or switch 14 so as to provide connections through the spring arms 8, 8 and connecting- Wires.

ithen button No. 5 is depressed the current from battery c at station C passing throughwires 31, contact 5, Wires 37", .metailic strip fi wires 70 magnet 19, which sets signal 15 at station E to danger, and

thus completes the c-ircuitthrough spring,-

arms 18, 18, connecting wires 61, 33 to set the safety devices 26 at station E, in addition to the si nal being set to danger at said station. T? No. 1 having setthe forward signal 15 at station B as previously described, by depressing when it passes the station (3 will set the opposite or rear signal 15 at station B and will'closo the is will be eflec'leo as follows: Train ITO circuit through the contact springs and wires i8, 18 to energize the magnets 25, 25' at B and this raises both the front and rear safety devices .26 which are located at each end' of the space occupied by the depression buttons from'l to 6, and Will prevent'train No. 1 from passing into the block between A and B, and

thus meeting train No. 3 approaching from trol of both trains, so that either train which -first arrives at station B willbe automatic i the opposite direction. These safety devices being thusarranged we have an actualcon ally stopped while the danger signals being also exposed will, if not overlooked, serve to inform the train officials of the the other train. I

The operations here described will be represented in any block and with relation to any two or three contiguous stations at the entrance to said blocks when trains are in either of the positions heretofore described.

positions of Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s l. The combination in a block signal system of signals located in pairsat theend of each block, depression buttons disposed in series at points adjacent to each signal, means carried by the train by which said buttons are successively depressed, batteries and connections whereby the depressions of said buttons. close circuits, an interposed switch actuatedby the closing of the first of the circuits, whereby circuits are closed at the distant and ad'acent stations upon the entrance of the tram into the block and the by the train an depression of other buttons, electro magnets energized by the closing of said circuits, and armatures and intermediate mechanism by which the signals are moved and the danger signals exposed.

2. The combination in a block system for railways of a series of signals located at the end of each block, depression buttons located in the path of the train, and mechanism carried by the train by which said buttons are successively moved, and electrical circuits each direction when exposed, deyices located inthii ath of the train andcontiguous to the end o each block, depression buttons, and mechanism upon the tralniwhereby said buttons'aiieisuccessivel dc ress'edtolcom lete' P electrical circuits whereby the signals are set to, danger adjacent to and in-advance of 6c ti'on when the train leaves the block, and

tlietrain andrestored to their normal posimechanism located in the path of the train and -raisedby mechanism controlled-by an electrical circuit com leted by the movement to danger. of two a acent signals whereby contacts are produc'ed between 's ai d mechanism and-dev ces carried by the tram so that any train is automatically arrested before entering the block still occupied by another train,

'4. in a glock system and railway signaling apparatus, signaling devices mounted upon levers, shafts .to whlch said levers are fixed,

cylindrical commutator switches .carried upon the shafts of the levers, contact springs or brushes restingupon the periphery of the switch, electro magnet's mounted in pairs, armatures movable between said magnets and connections between saidarmatures whereby the signals are moved and the com lnutator switches are, rotated to make or break an electrical circuit through the con-' tact brushes. 1 p

5. In a railway block and signaling apparatus, stations at the ends of each block, depression devices located at said stations, means carried by the train whereby said devices are successively actuated, contacts made by the first depression by which an electrical circuit is established, an electro mag net energized thereby, a revoluble commutator-switch and actuating mechanism therefor, and an armature moved by the energizing ofv the magnet whereby the commutator is,

turned to' complete circuits in readiness to actuate signals at the distant statlonr ratus, de y ression devices located at t e ends of each h ock and contacts by which electrical circuits are'completed at each depression, a .revoluble commutatonswrtcfh, an electro magnet, armature, and mechanism actuated thereby to rotate the'commutator and complete an electrical circuit with the distant station whenthe train enters the blockfan electro magnet at the distant station, energized bysaid circuit, an armature, mechanism actuated by the movement of the armature and asignal. exposed,' and a second come mutator switch set 111 unison with themove 'ment of the signal to complete. another -circuit whereby a signal is set to protect the en terin train.

7. in a railway block ands" tem, depression buttons or the, ike located atthe ends o each block and 'means carried by the train by which said buttons war-echo cessively depressed, commutator switches,

.electro magnets, armatures. and intermediate. mechanism whereby the switches aremoved' i by the entering 'of a trainat either end of "a. h ock, and'electrical connectlo'ns estabhs'hed and a'dangersignjalset atthef'o, posits end,- other commutator. switches, an 'mechanlsrny by'whichthey'are set innmsonwlthth'set, g,

through .whic electric currents "are; passed by the d pression, of subsequentbutt'ons andthe advanceofthetrain; v

8; The, combination with the dep ting of said s1 nals td complete new circuits ression devices sndi signals of,tj,"railway,almiay:

. '6. In a railway block'and signalin appathe periglhe'ry 0 signaling system, Of a. revoluble' 'ebmmutajtortate the cylinder in unison with the approach 10 switch, said switch consisting of a cylinder of a, train from either direction.

with a. series of-engircling conductiz'atg bands; In witness whereof I have-hereunto set my" elastic arms dis osed in pairs and-resting on .han

I the cylinder at each side of a ough .its axis, longitudinally dis- HOMER QQM plane is V posed insulated surfaces upon which one set Witnesses:

of-sa'id arms rest when the others rest upon S. H. NOURSE, the conducting bands, and mechanism to rot JESSIE C. BRODIE. 

